C&TSRR Shops 4th week December 2004

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	Here you are aboard the Smokey Balloon, looking past the the burners and into the Envelope. Smokey had to be retired, but a Group of some amazing people would like to get a New Smokey into the Air.. if you would like to help, even a single dollar will help.. Visit: www.smokeybearballoon.com or contact cgriner@lobo.net Smokey is a National Treasure and he deserves to fly thru the heavens again.. there are some things like the Cumbres & Toltec Railroad and the Smokey Balloon that are too valuable to let disappear, every Generation should have a Steam Train and A Smokey Balloon.
	Now I have always said I am nothing without my Friends and Family.. they are the people that make me what I am.. Here is one of the most Wonderful Friends I have, Everybody out there in Internet Land.. this is Trini Dominquez. She is a Photojournalist with FoxTv out of Denver, Colorado.
	Trini has been a blessing to me, I am so Proud of her and all she has accomplished, she is indeed a Wonderful Friend and I am Honored to know her... We will visit with Trini Again in coming Updates. She has a Railroad story to share with us...
	Here is Ole' Frosty Hanging out at my Sisters house.
	Now like I promised, here is some Picture's of 488 in the Chama Shop. You are looking at the completely rebuilt Inspirator on the Engineers Side of the Locomotive, you can see the new Steam lines coming in from the Injector down to the Inspirator. And I have a whole lot more pictures on 488, I plan on having a steady stream of photographs on the site in the future.
	Here is a Look at the Number 4 Driver on the Engineers side.
	You are looking at the New Fully rebuilt Injector on the Firemans side, that looks sharp... great work Guys.
	Now a look at the Cab Plumbing, you can see the Water-glasses and water column are installed, the locomotive is actually full of water and its appears to be sealed quite well.
	You are on the top of the Boiler looking down on the Main Fountain, this is where all the Steam comes from... the 2 Big Lines coming from Left and Right are the Steam Feed Lines to the Injectors in the Cab. The Steam Lines for the Air Pump, the Blower and the Dynamo also come from here.
	Now I had a little trouble with my e-mail, if there is anybody who wants the second or first Photo Cd on 487's rebuild,, please e-mail me again with your requests... I lost some info. You are on the Boiler looking forward and you can see the Steam dome. there is a line coming into the boiler from down below. That is actually hooked up to the water heater and is circulating water thru the Locomotive, the water comes up into the steam dome and out the Blow-down to the Water heater and back to the Locomotive.
	Here's a look at the installed Johnson Bar and Rack, you can also see the Engineers Injector and the steam lines coming down to the Inspirator.
	Here is the Bracket for the Air Pump, it is directly bolted to the Boiler. You can also see how the Boiler Insulation has been put on before the Boiler Jacket.
	Now we are standing on the Running boards directly in front of the where the cab will be. You are looking forward down the Firemans side and you can see all the Insulation.
	Another look at the Cab of 488, look at all the new Steam lines and Valve's.
	Here is a look at the Rods, starting in the foreground is the Eccentric Crank and Rod, then the Main Rod, then the Connecting Rods. All of this is on the Third Drivers Crank Pin.
	Welcome Back to Alamosa Colorado and the Home of the D&RGW Locomotive 169. You are inside the Boiler of 169, I am inside with my Buddy Lee Conner while he Needle scales the Boiler..
	Let me Introduce you to Lee Conner.
	Lee is working on the Firebox Supports at the bottom of the Boiler.
	You are now looking at the Flexible Staybolts above the Firebox, to the Upper Left and above is the Throttle Rod and Dry Pipe leading to the Throttle Valve.
	You are looking back to the Firebox, notice there are no larger flue holes like in the 480 type Locomotives, this Locomotive is not Superheated.
	Lee continues the work on 169.
	It is Difficult work, you can never really stretch out while you are inside Boilers.
	You may remember, this is exactly the same type of work I did on the 487.
	Okay here comes Lee out of the Boiler of 169, now it is a tight fit... Lee and I were the only ones CRAZY or THIN enough to fit down thru the Steam Dome and past the Throttle Valve to get into the Boiler.
	Lee's Head pops out of the Steam Dome.
	And there comes his Arms.
	And with Chuck Proudfoot Watching, Lee is out of the boiler.
	Well its Christmas Eve and On Behalf on the Cumbres & Toltec Shops Web-site, I have volunteered my time to help the City of Alamosa continue a Yearly Tradition.
	We gathered together and went out to set Luminarias up and down the Main Street of Alamosa and a few other Streets. You can see the trucks pulling trailers full of Luminarias... basically a lighted candle inside a paper bag.
	Let me introduce you to 3 of the Wonderful people who helped set out Luminarias in Alamosa. Now I must apologize, I didn't get the name of the Young Lady at the left end, But In the middle is Linda Ward and Her daughter Michele Ward, I know, I know, they could pass for Sisters... Linda and Michele Ward have been friends of mine for a long time, they have always been wonderful to me and I cherish their Friendship so much, Thank you Ladies, Best Wishes in the new year and you guys will always mean the world to me.
	Here is City of Alamosa Employee Dennis Deherrera, My Brother Francisco Llamas, Dorothy Romero and her Husband... Maniac Super Bronco Fan... Boogie Romero.
	This is Richardson Avenue and we put Luminarais up and down this Street.
	There goes Dorothy Romero and my Brother Francisco double-checking the Candles to make sure they are all lit.
	As the Sun sets, City of Alamosa Employee Dennis Deherrera sets the last Luminarias in place.
	Another look at the beautiful Alamosa Church before the sun goes down.
	Here is the new home of the D&RGW Locomotive 169.
	Welcome to Alamosa and the Old D&RGW Depot. You can see the Luminarias we helped set out that Day... it was so Cool when the sun went down. The Streets glowed to the light of 1500 Candles.
	Now here are the Locomotives of the San Luis & Rio Grande Railroad.
	This building acts as the new Depot for the Railroad.
	Looking North on State Street, you can see my old Faithful Pick-up and my Dad at the Wheel. You can also see the Luminarias lining the Street.
	Looking NorthWest you can see the Locomotives and the New Bio-Diesel Plant being built in the Yards.. that will actually be the first Bio-Diesel Plant in the United States if I am correct.
	Thanks to my New Friend Jussi from Finland, here are some shots from oversea's. The Jokioinen Museum operates 3 Steam Locomotives and soon will have 4 Locomotives under Steam. Here is Jokioinen Museums Locomotive #1, it is a H. K. Porter Locomotive built in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1901.
	Here is Number #1 in the Shop.
	She is a Beautiful Saddle Tank Locomotive.
	Look at the Driver Wheels on Number #1.
	Here's Number #1 lifted up into the Air.
	And a look at the Running Gear and springs.
	Here is Number #1's fresh driver Wheels... look at the Number 2 Driver, it is a Blind Driver meaning it has no Flange on it. Thanks to my Mr. Jussi Tepponen, Chief of Operations, Jokioinen Railway Museum, Finland.. for all the photos and more to come on later updates, feel free to visit: www.jokioistenmuseorautatie.fi
	Well thats all for this Week and THIS YEAR...Wow, thats the end of the First year of the Cumbres & Toltec Shops Web-site. Thank you for making it so much fun and thank you for making it such a success, I will continue where I left off and bring more and more Photographs to the web-site for you to see and share with us. Thank you all so much, here's to another year behind the scene's at the Cumbres & Toltec. Carlos J. Llamas